Pune Railway Station Flooded After Heavy Rain, Passengers Rush to Save Luggage

The sudden downpour on Saturday led to significant flooding at Pune railway station, causing passengers to scramble to protect their luggage. The portico and front yard were inundated, with platform number 4 also experiencing roof leaks.

Many passengers took to social media to share visuals of the flooding and discuss the inconveniences they faced.

Vikas Deshpande, a member of the Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) and the Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee (DRUCC), highlighted the dangers posed by the accumulation of water on the platform. “The slippery conditions are unsafe for passengers, particularly for children and senior citizens. Many are struggling to find dry areas, leading to overcrowding in some spots. Passengers are calling for immediate repairs to prevent further inconvenience and potential accidents,” he stated.

Auto driver Satish Ghadge echoed these concerns, noting that waterlogging was causing issues for passengers commuting to and from the station. “While some water has been drained today (Sunday), what will happen if more rain comes?” he questioned.

Indu Dubey, the Divisional Railway Manager of Pune, explained that the station’s umbrella gate area is somewhat sloped compared to the surrounding roads, causing water runoff. “As soon as we became aware of the issue, our staff worked to clear the passage,” she noted.

To prevent future waterlogging, the railway has approved the installation of a 120-meter-long, 1.2-meter-diameter pipeline that will be laid underground beneath the station and yard using micro-tunneling techniques.

Regarding the roof leaks on platform number 4, Dubey mentioned that debris and plastic bottles discarded by passengers had clogged one of the ‘bay valley’ gutters during the heavy rain, reducing its drainage capacity and causing overflow. “Once we noticed the overflow, our staff quickly cleared the obstruction, after which the issue was resolved,” she added.

Check the Mumbai Mirror Channel video of the news going viral:

#BreakingNews: Pune railway station flooded after heavy rain

Passengers scramble to save luggage

Rainwater enters residential colonies as well #Pune #Monsoon | @NivedhanaPrabhu pic.twitter.com/3zk42qeg2q

— Mirror Now (@MirrorNow) August 19, 2024